DETROIT — Detroit's fight for survival will enter a critical stage this week when the insolvent city unveils an early blueprint of how it plans to exit bankruptcy, with a restructuring plan that would shed massive amounts of debt and allow the city to improve some of the basic public services it has struggled for years to provide.

As early as Wednesday, the city is expected to release its bankruptcy plan of adjustment — the legal term for the restructuring proposal that spells out how the city would treat creditors and assets in the nation's largest municipal bankruptcy.

The document is expected to be released in conjunction with a detailed report about how city government would be restructured, affecting the day-to-day services Detroiters rely on, from levels of policing and fire protection to how often buses run and how many blighted homes and businesses are torn down.

Release of the restructuring plan amounts to a first draft of how Detroit's bankruptcy team — led by state-appointed emergency manager Kevyn Orr — envisions operating a city with far less debt.

But that first draft is subject to the same negotiations and potentially long legal challenges from creditors who stand to lose out. It's certain to face objections from creditors fighting for every last dime they can get.

No matter the reception from creditors, city bankruptcy lawyers also must convince U.S. Bankruptcy Judge Steven Rhodes, who's overseeing the city's Chapter 9 case, that the city restructuring plan is feasible and sustainable in the long term, said Doug Bernstein, a bankruptcy expert for the Plunkett Cooney law firm in Bloomfield Hills.

With that aim, the city's plan of adjustment and disclosure statement will provide "as much detail as you can, knowing full well that a lot of it is subject to change," said Bernstein. (Bernstein represents the Ford Foundation, one of the major philanthropies that have pledged millions to help reduce pension cuts and preserve the Detroit Institute of Arts.)

Bernstein equated the restructuring plan to Orr and city lawyers painting a broad picture to reveal how, "if we are able to get our financial house in order, we'll be able to make these kinds of improvements. It gives a view for creditors into what the city has in mind and what they think they can do."

Orr spokesman Bill Nowling declined comment Monday.

Rhodes told the city last month that the plan must be feasible and cannot include any hasty financial decisions or unrealistic expectations.

"He wants to see there's enough money to run a successful city — and that comes from cutting existing debt," said Laura Beth Bartell, a bankruptcy law professor at Wayne State University. "Other than that, he would like to see as much buy-in as possible from creditors."

Here are five things to watch for in the plan of adjustment — including some factors that may not be fully addressed because they're still being discussed in confidential mediation sessions.

Restructure of city government: In the disclosure statement filed with the plan of adjustment, Orr is expected to reveal details about how he plans to reshape the city's bureaucracy.

His proposal could reveal fresh details about how the city might invest in critical services, including its police and fire departments, internal technology, its bus system and blight removal. It could also include moves to consolidate and outsource some services.

The disclosure statement is likely to include information on the city's financial forecast that could include a detailed plan on how the city expects to increase its revenues and slash expenses in certain areas.

Pensioners: The city is expected to propose paying pensioners more than other unsecured creditors, in part because a group of foundations and the State of Michigan may give more than $800 million to reduce pension cuts and spin off the DIA. A big chunk of that money — $350 million — is a commitment from Gov. Rick Snyder that still must be approved by the state Legislature, no sure thing.

Orr may propose different levels of cuts for different pensioners, potentially depending on their age or the size of their pensions.

When the plan is released, watch to see whether pensioners signal support for the proposal.

"It is certainly possible that the representatives of the pensioners could endorse even the first plan of adjustment that's proposed," Bartell said.

Financial creditors, unions: The plan of adjustment will included detailed financials on how the city plans to treat major banks, bondholders, unions and contractors.

In June, Orr offered pennies on the dollar to unsecured creditors. In a draft version of the plan of adjustment acquired by the Free Press, the city offered about 20 cents on the dollar to unsecured creditors.

But some financial creditors could get stiffed completely. The plan of adjustment may include details about how the city plans to treat Bank of America Merrill Lynch and UBS, two global banks that could face a lawsuit from the city over their involvement in a $1.4 billion pension debt deal from 2005.

The city has already filed a lawsuit against the shell corporations it established to do the $1.4 billion deal, turning several bond insurers and European banks into targets and creating a crucial bargaining chip as the bankruptcy progresses.

What's missing from the plan: The document may include placeholder language to be completed later on several critical issues.

For example, the city's plan to spin off the Detroit water department to an independent authority with much more suburban control, in exchange for $47 million in revenue for the city each year for 40 years, is facing stiff opposition.

Suburban leaders in Oakland and Macomb counties have so far balked at the terms of that deal. Without the water deal, Detroit creditors will get less, and there will be less money for improved services.

Bernstein said the plan of adjustment must strike a balance between optimism and realism, reflecting both the tough financial circumstances that brought the city low and a reasonable degree of hope that Detroit will be better positioned to recover with its debts restructured.